Mavic Ksyrium Pro Thermo Glove

The Mavic Ksyrium Pro Thermo gloves offer plenty of protection from cold winds and freezing temperatures thanks to decent insulation which also keeps the rain out for a bit too. The inner pulling out because of sweaty hands can make putting them back on a bit of a faff, though.

• Pros: Soft fabric, very warm
• Cons: Sweaty hands can pull the liner out of position, no real need for the elastic wrist loops

The Ksyrium Pros incorporate Primaloft Sport insulation which uses fine fibres to create tiny air pockets that trap body heat and keep the cold out. I've used plenty of products with it in over the years and it offers pretty impressive performance.

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I've been wearing these whenever I've got up to find ice on the car windows, and I've found their warmth very impressive when the temperature has dropped a couple of degrees below freezing.

No matter what speed you are riding at, no feeling of wind flow gets through and even taking them off after a three-hour ride with the temperature not getting above 3°C, I still had warm hands – to the point that they were a little bit sweaty.

The liner is very soft to the touch and the Mavics feel lovely when you put them on, all helping with the warm feeling you get from the insulation. The only issue that brings is that if your hands do get wet then it is easy for the liner to get pulled down the fingers, almost inside out, and can then be a bit of a pain to push back in. You just need to remember to hold the tips of your fingers and thumb as you remove the gloves.

The interwoven fibres of the Primaloft also offer some water resistance after it has made it through the outer fabric. The fabric will stand up to a short, heavy shower or a good hour in heavy drizzle, but even if it does let the water through your hands remain warm so it's not a major issue. They are definitely more of a dry weather glove, though, rather than something you can use in all winter conditions.

To judge sizing you need to measure around your knuckles and I found the size chart to be pretty spot on. Finger length was absolutely fine but I have quite chunky digits so they were snug width-wise. It's a good idea to have a bit of room inside gloves in the winter to let warm air circulate, but I didn't really have any issues.

The long cuff is the perfect length for tucking up inside a winter jacket's sleeve and you can control how tight you want it with the Velcro tab.

The Ksyriums have elasticated cuff straps that you can slip your wrist through, so if you stop and remove your glove you won't drop it as it'll still be attached to you. I can understand the need for this if you are skiing or you don't want your toddler to lose their mittens, but I found that here they just get in the way. I'd definitely be snipping them off if I bought them.

When it comes to the pad, the fabric is covered in little silicone dots for grip, plus the index finger and thumb tips get a smooth, touchscreen-compatible finish.

The joint between the index finger and thumb is reinforced to stop wear and tear from gripping the hoods, and you get a snot wipe on top of the thumb.

A lot of winter gloves are often thick enough to not need padding but Mavic has gone with 2mm-thick Ortholite foam sections for beneath your fingers and the two bottom 'corners' of your wrist. It does a pretty decent job of stopping road vibration without making the gloves feel overly bulky.

At £70, the Mavics are well into Rapha territory, matching the Pro Team gloves. They are also just 1p more than the excellent Giro 100 Proof gloves, which really impressed when riding in very cold conditions.

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There is also a lot of competition for a lot less money: Santini's very good Deep Double Layer Winter gloves will set you back just £39.99, for instance, or Madison offers its fully waterproof Avalanche gloves for just £32.99.

The Mavics are some of the most comfortable gloves I have worn and are very well made, but whereas I was fully sold on the Giro 100 Proofs I'm not sure I'd pay full whack for these. That said, the Giros' finger layout takes some getting used to and if you prefer traditional style gloves then these are well worth a look – especially if you can find them discounted.

Verdict

Comfortable, well made and very warm winter gloves, but they come at a cost